Kasia Charko

Pamela McDowell’s first career was in education, teaching junior high and high school. She began writing when she left teaching and has now written more than twenty nonfiction books for children. Pamela grew up in Alberta and enjoys writing about the diverse animals and habitats of her home province. Ospreys in Danger is her first work of fiction. Pamela lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, two kids and an Australian shepherd. For more information, visit www.pamelamcdowell.ca.

Twigs whipped at Jake's face. Roots leaped up to trip him. He couldn't breath. He glanced back, and a huge shadow lunged out from behind a tree. "Faster, Tommy!" he yelled. A boulder appeared in front of him. Jake leaped over it. He dodged around a couple of spruce trees and then plowed through some bushes. The blood pounded in his ears. He didn't care which way he went. He had to get away!

Twigs whipped at Jake's face. Roots leaped up to trip him. He couldn't breath. He glanced back, and a huge shadow lunged out from behind a tree. "Faster, Tommy!" he yelled. A boulder appeared in front of him. Jake leaped over it. He dodged around a couple of spruce trees and then plowed through some bushes. The blood pounded in his ears. He didn't care which way he went. He had to get away!

Ali sat on her bed. She picked up Tedward Bear. "I wish I had a big brother who wasn't allergic to cats," she whispered in his ear. "I wish I had a baby brother who didn't take my things." She hugged Tedward Bear. "But most of all, I wish I could have a real cat of my very own."

Ali sat on her bed. She picked up Tedward Bear. "I wish I had a big brother who wasn't allergic to cats," she whispered in his ear. "I wish I had a baby brother who didn't take my things." She hugged Tedward Bear. "But most of all, I wish I could have a real cat of my very own."

The boat was pushed closer to the cliff with each surge of the sea. Jake glanced back and saw the entrance to the cave a short distance away. Each time a wave hit, water rushed into the hole, like storm water down a drain. Then it was sucked out again as the wave receded. "Jake! Look out!" said Tommy, standing up and pointing. Jake saw the cliff loom up in front of him. "Hold on!" he shouted.

The boat was pushed closer to the cliff with each surge of the sea. Jake glanced back and saw the entrance to the cave a short distance away. Each time a wave hit, water rushed into the hole, like storm water down a drain. Then it was sucked out again as the wave receded. "Jake! Look out!" said Tommy, standing up and pointing. Jake saw the cliff loom up in front of him. "Hold on!" he shouted.

With eyes as big as owl's, we stared out at a great, black ship stranded among the breakers. Grandpa Macneill was telling Mrs. Wyand all about it. "I was riding home," he said, "when I happened to look out to sea. I could hardly believe my eyes! A great sailing ship was heading straight for shore. When it hit a sandbar, the crew cut the rigging and the huge mast went over."

Tommy looked almost as scared as when they were trapped in Smuggler's Cave last fall. "All right," he said.Jake and Lexie high-fived each other."But you have to go slow," said Tommy. "And wait for me if I get tired.""Don't worry, Tommy," said Lexie. "We won't let anything happen to you." She grinned. "Wildcat Run, here we come."

Tommy looked almost as scared as when they were trapped in Smuggler's Cave last fall. "All right," he said.Jake and Lexie high-fived each other."But you have to go slow," said Tommy. "And wait for me if I get tired.""Don't worry, Tommy," said Lexie. "We won't let anything happen to you." She grinned. "Wildcat Run, here we come."